Location: University Flyover of Clementi Road
Date/Time: 9 Feb 2007, 6.35pm
I was turning into Clementi Road at Exit 9 from Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE).
After crossing the traffic light at the T-junction of Exit 9 and Clementi Road, I took the extreme left lane by mistake due to the heavy traffic. The extreme left lane leads back to AYE but I needed to filter one lane to the right to go back to Clementi Road.
As I signaled my intention to filter right, I kept waving my arm to indicate that I was apologetic & thankful and needed the driver to my right to allow me to pass. I drove slowly near to a white Nissan (perhaps Cabstar) van with license plate number GZ 81xx R. No matter how much I signaled and indicated to thank him, the Chinese male driver kept driving faster and refused to allow me to filter.
After he passed, a black Toyota or Nissan MPV behind him gave way to me and allowed me to pass. I would like to thank him/her for that. I think he/she would have seen my indication of thanks as I drove pass.
It is surprising that the Traffic Police keeps emphasizing on courtesy on the roads but we get such uncouth and discourteous driver. He just refuses to give way even though I have indicated my intention and thanks. What I do not understand is, by giving way to me, would that Nissan van driver lose his life over it?
I just wanted to let all the courteous and safe Singaporean drivers out there know that they should keep their good driving habits. Keep driving safely and courteously. Do not let such bad driving attitude affect your driving.
Submitted by JL
February 28, 2007 at 4:40 pm
It’s not a surprise, I think it has become a norm for most drivers to have the same experience as you. I always got this sort of experience, especially taxi drivers, the moment you gave signal of intending to switch lane, the driver instead of slowing down to give way, they will be stepping on the accelerator to speed pass, maybe they are scare that they will lose out to I don’t know what, maybe their egos!!!!
Another bad habit I realise about Singaporean drivers is that they love to switch lane without signalling, there was once I almost bang into the car which cut in front of me without signalling!! I don’t think I’m making a fuss over this as it is really very dangerous, sometimes I really hope for a undercover TP!! Hahaha….
April 8, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Seems like I’m not the only one got irrrtated by such bad drivers. Glad I’m not alone.
June 5, 2007 at 3:31 am
Hi Jim. Photos i received. Thanks
September 6, 2007 at 6:01 am
define bad driver:
good driving habits start with you paying attention to what you are doing while in traffic and how you need to get where you need to go. it’s your responsibility. i’ve never heard of ‘filtering’ while driving. changing lanes requires that you yield. this means stay clear of those that have the right of way. courtesy starts with you NOT assuming the rules don’t apply to you. a signal is a signal – a yield is a yield. these are two seperate entities. do you think you would lose your life by FOLLOWING the rules. this truck may have had aunt tillies priceless antique grandfather clock which is a delicate instrument in it. slamming on the brakes to allow someone that is not paying attention to what they are doing would not do well for the clock. trucks accellerate slowly because of the weight. so as he gets up to speed you want him to ignore his own needs just to accomodate you and your own little selfish ‘ me now ‘ rant.
December 20, 2007 at 10:57 pm
You are so much like me, or i’m like you, well anyway, if we knew each other we’d make a good team, hehe, keep up the good work
December 27, 2007 at 3:43 am
I often refuse to let signallers change lanes. Why? In London it is common practice for selfish drivers to try and cut-around normal traffic flows and then push in by signalling and assuming people will give-way. As a result I expect people to “filter” back where it is more appropriate rather than stuffing up traffic flows lane-changing.
Remember, you do not have the RIGHT to change lanes, so change earlier when there actually is a gap. YOU be the one to slow down and cut in behind another driver; don’t selfishly think you have a RIGHT to push in front of the driver beside you – that’s retarded and I’d use a hammer on you if I found you doing that to me.
June 19, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation
Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Eardrum.
January 4, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I agree with the blogger, some drivers are really inconsiderate. I was driving along the cte and there was this volvo(well a car a lot bigger than mine) that was going to turn out just as i was, i indicated that i was going into the 2nd lane, the disgusting volvo driver behind didn’t indicate and i guess didn’t want to let me pass initially, or the car must be too big to see my car’s indicator going off…… so whoever that person was horned at me…. so now i filtered to the extreme right with the volvo still behind, i had to exit soon so i indicated, AGAIN, to filter left, the left lane was clear so i made a move to filter, but guess what??? that volvo coincidentally wanted to filter into the same lane without indicating and horned at me AGAIN!!! as if I’m at fault (that volvo driver just wanted to filter so that it could get infront and back to the express lane) couldnt remember the whole license plate, but the numbers i remember were 1001… the passenger(front left seat) even looked at me in scorn